Stencil "C" Pillow

Hello Friends,

Earlier this week, I shared with you my three-year chair project that I finished last Saturday Morning.  Today, I would like to share with you how I made the initial "C" pillow to go on the chair. 

Also, I used Microsoft Windows Live Writer for the first time to write this post, (I know I am a little late to the game, but I liked it). I accidently published the post instead of moving it to blogger prior to it being finished.  If you saw the first post, ignore it, although I understand it is on the internet FOREVER!

Since the chair was going to Tom’s house, I had to make sure the pillow was masculine. Tom HATES decorative pillows!  So, the only thing I could thing of was a monogram “C” using the popular “Stencil” font . 

I decided I would use the pillow form from one of the old pillows I had purchased at “Target”. (I know all of you know how to pronounce “Tar-Zhay” the French Way.)

Pretty Darn Simple! Right? WRONG!  When I opened one side of the pillow to pull the form out, I realized the casing for the pillow stuffing was attached to the pillow.  (Maybe, all of you knew this, but not me!)

See! Then, I proceeded to open all four sides.  When I finally opened the pillow, this is what I found!

A little stuffing had been sewn into the seam line. I put aside all the stuffing and used the pillow as a pattern.  I used  painter drop cloth (left over from another project) for the pillow.

I thought the pillow was too large for the chair.  So, I measured 1 1/2”  around and marked the casing to cut the casing for the smaller pillow. Then I used the smaller casing as a pattern and cut the drop cloth material (already cut out) smaller.  I sewed the casing and put all the stuffing inside and sewed up the casing.

Now, Finally, I had to figure out the size of the Stencil to go on the pillow.  I went to the “Word” program and opened a blank document.  I typed a capital ‘C” on the page.  Next I highlighted the “C” and chose the “Stencil Font”.  I clicked the the font increase size button to make the “C” as large as I needed and then printed the pattern out on the computer. (you can always take your chosen letter and increase the size with a copier, our copier is on the blink!)

I realized I was out of Freezer Paper.  Mr. C, being the sweet man that he is, went to the store and picked up freezer paper for me.

While Mr. C was at the store, I taped the "C" onto a card board box lid.  When he returned with the freezer paper, I taped the freezer paper (wax side down) on top of the "C".  (you can see my tape came undone.)

I used a mechanical pencil (you can use the old fashion type pencil) to trace the “C” on to the freezer paper. Guess where the cardboard box lid came from? (By the way, I am not being paid to promote “Office Depot”…it is what I had in the garage.

After tracing the “C”, I used an exacta knife to cut the stencil.

Now, here comes the fun part.  I ironed the stencil (wax side down) onto the front pillow side.  The wax side of the freezer paper really sticks to the cloth!

I pulled out my almost 20 year old black acrylic paint and started sponging on the paint.

I hung the stencil pillow front outside to dry. With our weather in Oklahoma, it dried pretty quick!  I sewed the front and back sides together, leaving an opening for the pillow form on one side.  I turned the pillow inside out, put the form inside the pillow, and hand-sewed the open end (you can use a sewing machine to close the pillow).

Here is the PILLOW sitting on the chair at Tom’s Front Porch.  The freezer paper kept the outline of the “C” crisp.

I had never used Freezer Paper for a stencil.  There are plenty of tutorials on stencil making in Blog land.  I just wanted to try this thrifty idea! This project would have been faster,  had I used the copy machine to increase the font size or ventured to Hobby Lobby to purchase a stencil, but then I would not have had as much fun as I did on Saturday!

Have you used any kind of stencil around your house?  I know wall Stencils are famous right now!

This week I am going to party at the following places:

Saturday Nite Special - Funky Junk Interiors

Saturday Spotlight - Crafty Envy

Weekend Wrap up Party - Tatertots and Jello

Show and Tell Saturday - Be Different Act Normal

Once again, I want to say a “BIG” Thank you for following my adventures!  I love LOVE your comments on the post directly and on Face book. 

Wishing you a great weekend!

Wanda

Sophie's Bedroom is READY!!

Wow!  This summer has gone by fast!  Tonight, Sophie, our exchange student from Germany, will be arriving in Oklahoma City.  We are so excited!  We have watched her plane travel across the Atlantic on the airline website.


I want to share with you her bedroom.  Remember how it looked liked a grandma's Room.  I think you will find there have been changes a happening at our house.


Here is a reminder of how the room once looked:

and a second look at the old room

Here is Sophie's bedroom, now!

I am leaving the walls undecorated, so Sophie can turn this room into HER room.

The bedding came from TJ Maxx.

I purchased inexpensive lamp shades from Garden Ridge.  They had a camo material on the shades.  I removed the camo material and recovered the shades with painter drop cloth material, and glued brown ribbon at the top and the bottom of the shades.  I spray-painted the gold lamps ORB.

I sewed the round table cover from painter drop cloth material, and used a zig zag stitch to add the trim at the bottom of the table skirt.

The table skirt trim is the very same material used to accent the window curtains.

The window curtains are made, once again, from painter drop cloth fabric with the fun and colorful material to the inside and outside of  each panel.

We purchased a new mirror (on sale 50% off)  from Pier One, a round pendleton paper latern from Target, the guitars and small amp were purchased from a pawn shop. I spray painted the small chair with ORB and recovered with  cream colored fabric remnant from JoAnn Fabrics.  Tom, my oldest son brought over the music stand and checked out the guitars before we purchased them. Also, Tom took the time to tune and restring the guitars.

The Lava Lamp had belong to our second son, Greg, when he was in high school.

Here is a quick look at her bathroom.

I stapled the bedroom curtains material around stretch bars and hung the artwork over each of the hand towel holders.

Here is a look at three of the artwork I made displayed in the shower area.

Hopefully, Sophie will feel welcomed and loved in her American home. We have no doubt she will add joy to our lives.  And, we look forward to having her family with us during the Christmas holidays!

Thanks again for following my adventures.  It should be a busy school year for my family with Sophie.

Wanda

Bedside Tables from Bookcases

Last month, Mr C and I went to an estate sale and found several great items that would work in our son's house.  As you know, I have been working on Tom's bedroom.  We found two bookcases and the tops could be removed. The lower part of the bookcases are the perfect height for bedside tables.  Here is a "before" photo of the bedside tables and their tops.

Mr C and I love the design on the drawers.

So, I went to work on the bedside tables.  I did the usual sanding, priming, and painting two coats of base paint on the body and the drawers of the tables.  I used a walnut stain on the top of the tables.

Then, I proceeded to distress the drawers with the electric sander and with "Old School" hand sanding.  I added glaze and finished with a semi-gloss polycrylic top coat on the body and the drawers and a satin finish of  polyurethane on the top of the bedside tables.  I sprayed "ORB" on the hardware.

Here is peak.

Another close look.

A final close up look.

Now a look at one of the finished tables.

After noticing how several people in blog land uses drop cloths for curtains, I thought, what a great price for a great look! So, I used drop cloths for curtains in Tom's bedroom. I bleached, washed, and ironed the drop cloths.  I spayed painted the existing curtain hardware with "ORB".  I purchased curtain clip rings from Lowes. Mr C hung the hardware at the top of the ceiling. I love the look of curtains hanging from the ceiling.  I think it adds great eye design to a room.

I found lamps for the bedside tables at the Homegoods Store in Dallas.  Do I Love and I mean LOVE the Homegoods Store? (wish OKC would get one)  Great price for the lamps.  In fact, while I was in the checkout line, I was wondering if Tom would like the lamps. A young man Tom's age asked the price of the lamps and said he like them.  Hoo Woo!! (The young man made my day by easing my doubts.)

Without further delay, here is a full look of  the bedside tables.

A look at the table on the other side of the bed.

The photos do not show the true color of the tables.

Now, a look at the whole bed side of the room.

What do you think of the room, so far?

I have some more ideas for the bedroom. There is a corner that needs two chairs and a small table. (I have to paint the table. It is sitting in the garage) Also, more accessories are needed for this room.  I have been searching different blogs for wall covering ideas! You, Bloggers are so talented!

I love your comments!  Please share your thoughts with me:) I look forward to having you follow me on my journey!

Have a great week!

Wanda